Posted on 02/17/2014 4:51:50 PM PST by Zeneta
Don’t waste your time. You would have to reinstall Windows XP from scratch to switch to a multiprocessor kernel. Better off buying a refurbished Windows 7 machine. TigerDirect has a nice Optiplex 755 refurbished with 4GB RAM, 500GB hard disk, and Windows 7 Pro 32-bit for $250.
I just read through all the comments, but didn’t notice anyone else mention the kernel problem. If WinXP is installed on a single-core CPU it will set the kernel to single-core. If you then add cores by changing the CPU it will very likely no longer boot up at all; if it DOES boot it will still be using the single processor kernel. I’d be really surprised if it boots at all.
Now, changing your XP kernel to multiprocessor is not anything as simple as just swapping out a physical CPU. The kernel mode is set during setup.exe - I don’t know of a way to change the kernel mode after Windows has been installed. If there is a way to do such a thing it is going to involve command shell programming that I suspect is beyond your skill level based on the topic of this post.
Do yourself a favor and just get another machine. Even a refurbished one is going to be much better than what you have now, and the amount of time and hassle you will save will be worth every penny. Add to that the fact the WinXP is end-of-life in two months and the decision is a simple one.
What about the kernel problem? Adding more cores won’t change the mode of the XP kernel... not without reinstalling!
Thanks.
This is the kind of stuff I was or am concerned with.
I think or thought I may need to upgrade my Bios. I’m wondering if that may allow XP to recognize the dual core ?
I must admit that I love XP.
It doesn’t crash, ever.
I have never needed support because it works.
Based on some of the feedback I have received on this thread, it seems as though my system/MB can accommodate a simple chip swap.
That said, I actually paid extra when I bought this machine to “downgrade” it to XP from the standard Win 7 at the time.
Win 7 was brand new and had issues.
Updating the BIOS is great, but it won’t change the kernel mode. If you increase the number of CPU cores you will have to reinstall XP to change the kernel mode. It may be possible to install XP “on top of” what is there already and preserve the registry and application details. I’ve never tried that and am not sure I’d recommend it anyway.
If you’re dead set on the CPU swap, backup all your files and data and make a clean install of XP. It’s the only way to be sure that the kernel mode is properly set and you have a clean installation of Windows XP multiprocessor.
For what it’s worth, if you really love XP I’d recommend you buy a Windows 7 machine and install Windows XP as a virtual machine in either MS Virtual PC or using VMware Player. You’ll be able to run your favorite stuff still, but not be hamstrung by the limitations of an 11-year old operating system. (Yes, Windows XP was released in 2002.)
Trying to upgrade may not even work. You could be trowing your money away and end up with a computer that won't even boot.
Thanks for your input.
On a side note. I have an HP laptop running Vista that won’t boot up.
HP Pavilion dv7-1245dx
Amd Turion-x2 64
It crashed sometime ago and I gave up on it for awhile.
Power up, I hear the drive spin for about 2-3 seconds, and nothing. I tried over and over again but always the same.
Until one day I just powered it up and let it sit. After a few hours, out of nowhere, it booted up. I spent an entire day uninstalling crap and grabbing every update I could. Hours and hours of updates and restarts, but I was able to use the machine, for awhile.
It seemed to work fine unless I was watching a youtube video for more than 30 minutes or so.
Crash. No blue screen, it just shut off. All my power settings are at “NEVER”, No screen saver,sleep mode and no anti-virus programs running.
As this happened repeatedly I was still able to restart the machine and watch youtube videos again until it just shut down again. This time, it won’t boot up. I’ve removed and reinstalled the battery,(there are apparently issues with it), I have powered it up and let it sit for 8 hours plus, as this is how it restarted back when I tried before.
Kernel:
Before you do this, get an XP install DVD ready to go, make sure it works and you can boot from it (i.e., set the bios to try to boot from DVD first, etc.)
Then after replacing the CPU, just install XP from scratch at boot time.
You would obviously need to copy any files you need onto different media while you still have your machine in its current state.
If you have any data on the PC that you intend to keep, you should have removable media for backup anyway, and be doing periodic backups.
You’ll have a real licensed copy of XP then.
Laptops can run hot, there is an overheating issue with Pavilions.
Overheating bad for electronics.
Also, how many years has it been accumulating dust inside ? Dirty computers not worky so good.
Ah, I just re-read your post. Watching a video for 30 minutes will be pushing your CPU hard and heating it up.
Again, I’d always keep the cpu usage graph open. What’s it called in Vista, program manager, task manager ?
To lighten the load on cpu when viewing videos, the video card (graphics accelerator) needs to actually be used when the video is playing.
This requires compatibility/drivers, i.e., your OS, drivers, screen, accelerator card, etc., have to all be there and be set up as required.
I have a suspicion that many people have PCs that have a video accelerator but it’s not being used.
I don’t know how to verify whether it’s being used in M$ operating systems, but I imagine if you search for answers enough you’ll get them.
Obviously it would as a matter of standard practice be best to ascertain the situation prior to purchasing a machine, i.e., verify what graphics accelerator and monitor it comes with and what they need for drivers, etc., therefore making sure that drivers are available and all the pieces support the GE.
Another hint, if you’re stuck using CPU...
To minimize cpu usage, select the smallest video viewing size (definitely not full screen)...
and view the video at the lowest possible resolution.
You should be able to get your cpu down to 20% or less usage.
For a laptop, I’d be shooting to keep it at 10% cpu usage.
Also, some CPUs support Frequency scaling... that is, they can change the clock speed they are running at while the OS is running. So your cpu may be able to run at, for example, anything from 1.60GHz to 2.93GHz.
And, you usually set the “governor” to On Demand.
So if there’s not a lot going on, the cpu will slow down to 1.60GHz, and only if it’s real busy does it speed up to what it has to.
Slower is generally cooler.
For a laptop that runs cool, one does not want to be on the “bleeding edge” of technology.
There are also all kinds of laptop cooling devices for sale on the web.
Plastic pads filled with some kind of heat transfer goo, aluminum frames with holes in them that have fans inside that you sit your laptop on top of. The power comes from your laptops usb port.
I’ve tried these... believe me, it’s best to not push the CPU fast and not have a hotrod CPU.
Due to the size constraints, laptops are a lot of electronics crammed in close without an optimal cooling situation.
I also would not buy a cpu that was not dual core, since they are so much more responsive when one runs “ill-behaved” software that hogs cpu. But I’d stay with the more modest performance levels.
IMHO.
I've switched motherboards *and* CPU's (single to dual core) and had no problem. XP's hardware recognition is pretty advanced, which is pretty neat. You can keep your old jalopy of an installation running on a different PC with different hardware, which is more than I can say for just about any Apple machine ever built.
HP Pavilion dv7-1245dx Amd Turion-x2 64
This may be related to the lead-free specs for PCB solder imposed by the EU. I don't think they've fully worked out the kinks yet. Lead-free solder is less flexible and has a way of cracking under the stresses of expansion and compression cycles that the typical system board goes through. The system starts and stops are the result of intermittent circuit board connections. When it starts, the solder connections are touching; when it stops, they're not. You can get the problem chip reflowed (resoldered) but the problem will recur unless you take special care to keep the laptop cool, perhaps with one of those coolers that fit under the keyboard.
Thanks again for your insight.
I know over heating is an issue with laptops, and It is the primary reason I try to avoid them.
This laptop, however, never seemed to run as hot as other machines I’ve owned. I’ve always placed it on a raised surface.
I do think this machine has serious issues with its battery.
My keyboard and touchpad failed some time ago, and the solution (according to HP’S Forum) was to remove the battery and re-insert it. That actually worked until it became so common that I got a USD keyboard and mouse. Thankfully, HP err, Vista, had an screen keyboard which was the only way I could log into my system.\
Interestingly enough, I have monitored both my CPU and memory usage while watching those videos and as the thing just shut down.
I never hit a limit on my processor or memory.
It just shuts off.
I’ve turned the thing on when I made this comment.
I’ll let it sit all night and into tomorrow.
It’s not actually trying to boot up. It’s just dead with all the power lights on. There’s nothing I can do to change the state that it is in. But, I’ve been here before, and like I said, out of nowhere, it just booted up.
Wish me luck
Thanks for that and your other help.
The laptop certainly has a battery problem.
It may have overheated in the past which is my current problem. I don’t know.
That being said, IMHO, this looks like an interesting thread... "
Please do not link to any site which has any security issues known to you or to others.
Thank you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.